[Leica] My next Leica camera is a Sony A7

Sat Nov 1 16:37:23 PDT 2014

On these points of rhetoric I agree whole heartedly here with Geoff.
I don't see the positive point in declaring that a camera which we can get
to fit a Leica lens on it is a Leica camera. There is no humor or irony in
it that I can tell.

On 11/1/14 7:22 PM, "Geoff Hopkinson" <hopsternew at gmail.com> wrote:

> A good title for this thread might be:
> My next camera is a (fill in the blank whatever you want) ;-)
> 
> speaking only for myself. My next Leica camera will be a Leica camera.
> I haven't worn out current ones yet though but 16000 images and counting so
> far in 2014.
> 
> 
> 
> Cheers
> Geoff
> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman
> 
> On 2 November 2014 09:03, Jim Gmail <jplaurel at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> A7 is not optimal with wide M-mount wide angle  lenses, is it? Your M9
>> will still give much better results shorter than 50 or 35mm, no?
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Nov 1, 2014, at 15:49, "Frank Filippone" <red735i at verizon.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Looking for the ideal camera:  Lots of pixels, EVF, accepts Leica glass
>> if
>>> possible, AF when I need it, MF and attendant focusing aids otherwise,
>> not
>>> $8K, takes SDHC cards, great and dependable metering system, Full Frame,
>> not
>>> a cropped sensor, etc.  Built in flash is a bonus.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> What got me hooked was the EVF, and especially the enlarged EVF.... It is
>>> addictive to be able to focus with a magnified view.   I noticed this on
>> the
>>> Fuji XE-1 I have, but the time delay from pushing the button and
>> something
>>> happening was too long .  Maybe a XT-1 or XE-2 would have fixed that, but
>>> then I would have had a cropped sensor, and I am a WA type of person..
>> Not a
>>> great combo.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I have an M9.  It is a great camera, but focusing is not optimum.  Lenses
>>> over 90mm are really hard to compose as the VF is pretty much a Hail
>> Mary at
>>> that stage.  Some would say, go buy an M(240).  It offers a similar set
>> of
>>> specs as I want.  Easy to say, hard to part with the money for the
>> M(240).
>>> And the next iteration of Leica is bound to be yet another $1K.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I just received my new Sony A7.  Had a cheapo Leica M to Sony mount
>> adapter
>>> hanging about, just in case I eventually bought the A7.  Slapped on a 50
>>> ASPH Lux.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> The benefit of more pixels is primarily the ability to NOT carry a long
>>> lens.  You crop the image.  Saves weight.  Saves money ( no lens to
>> purchase
>>> ).  I was not terribly into the pixel count issues, it is a nice side
>>> benefit as I very rarely carry a long (over 75 or 90mm) lens.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> When the opportunity presented itself, I decided to try out the A7 over
>> the
>>> XT-1.  ( used, thanks to Doug, and his friend)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> The image quality, with the A7 + Cheapo ( $12) Adapter + that LENS!!!
>> And I
>>> am just blown away with the resolution.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> At roughly 200 yards, at F2 ( and probably 1/8000 of a second) I was
>> able to
>>> distinguish a hawk sitting on the electrical poles near the house. For
>>> reference, the hawk was most likely 12-15 inches tall.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> At about 6 yards, same exposures setup, I was able to distinguish the
>> marks
>>> on the head of an old, crusty, 6 penny nail in my fence. Focus accuracy
>> is
>>> astonishing.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Metering is superb.something Leica's pseudo spot meter lacks.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> There is basically no delay from pushing the button to getting the
>> shutter
>>> to open.  Even in magnified focusing mode.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> This kind of change does have its downsides.. My LR V4.4 will not read
>> the
>>> Sony files, but Adobe DNG Converter fixes that;  There is no in camera
>>> correction for vignetting nor "distortion" ( as if Leica's pride and joy
>>> mainstream lens needs too much); there is no EXIF file data to remember
>>> which lens you had on at any time ( which would not be at all important
>>> except for operations of vignetting and distortion correction.)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> The camera does not have the same solid feel as a Leica ( any Leica
>> short of
>>> the CL and maybe the P+S models).  It will probably die faster than a M3
>>> would.. Then again..
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I need to become more familiar with the operational buttons, and menus,
>>> however, I was able to get the camera working a bit more like I want it.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I wish more than ever that I had a fleet of Leica R glass, but not a
>> single
>>> one was ever in my kit.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> It is not going with me tonight to shoot some fun fotos of a adult
>> birthday
>>> party.  No twinkle flash.  Then again, nothing really is ideal.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Frank Filippone
>>> 
>>> Red735i at verizon.net
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information

-- 
Mark William Rabiner
Photographer
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/